Our Team

We are dedicated arts enthusiasts who believe a great city demands great art. We work collaboratively to shine a spotlight on artistic excellence, spark creative connections, and support cultural growth in our city.

Portrait of Kelly
Kelly Langgard, Director & CEO – Kelly Langgard has more than 25 years of experience in public policy, arts funding, governance, strategic planning, partnerships and government and stakeholder relations.  She has led various programs and initiatives aimed at supporting more opportunities for artists and arts professionals.  Kelly began her career at Calgary’s Herland Feminist Film Festival before becoming Executive Director of Images Festival in Toronto, during which time she served on the boards of the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre and the Independent Media Arts Alliance. She has held a number of positions at Canada Council for the Arts: Media Arts Officer, Head of Audience and Market Development, Head of Partnership and International Coordination and Manager of Strategic Research Initiatives. She has also held the positions of Senior Advisor for Cultural Diplomacy at Global Affairs Canada, Program Manager at the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and most recently Director of Granting at Ontario Arts Council.


Portrait of Dane
Dane Bland, Director, Development & Engagement – Dane is a Certified Fundraising Executive with a decade of nonprofit experience raising tens of millions of dollars in contributions through corporate and foundation partnerships, major gifts, and multi-channel mass-market campaigns. He is deeply committed to volunteerism, community management, political activism, advocacy, and philanthropy. In addition to his experience in fundraising, Dane brings a wealth of expertise in communications, digital marketing, direct marketing, and media relations. Dane has worked as Head of Development at international LGBTQI+ charity, Rainbow Railroad, and held previous roles in arts, healthcare and higher education. He is a graduate of the Trent University Business Administration Program and Seneca College Fundraising Management postgraduate certificate program. He also sits on the boards of 4th Line Theatre and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Greater Toronto Chapter), and has been a CFRE Ambassador since 2019. 


Portrait of Rupal
Rupal Shah, Director, Policy & Programs – Rupal is an experienced and inventive cultural manager with over 20 years of experience leading, supporting and collaborating with artists and communities. Most recently, she was the Interim Associate Director of Granting at Ontario Arts Council. Rupal began her career supporting Canadian theatre artists and performance creators through leadership roles at Nightswimming, Obsidian Theatre, and Summerworks Performance Festival. She then came to Toronto Arts Council where she managed funding programs and partnerships as Strategic Programs Manager. In 2021, she led the creation of a national community of practice as part of the Healthy Communities Initiative, a federal funding program supporting Canadian infrastructure and placemaking initiatives in the wake of COVID-19. Rupal teaches in the Arts Management program at Centennial College.


Portrait of Andrew
Andrew Suri, Director, Planning & Operations – Andrew joined TAC in 2010. He studied philosophy and biology (B.Sc. McMaster University, M.Sc. University of Victoria) and had commenced doctoral research before he crossed over to the arts and worked as a photographer and filmmaker, and as a performer and educator of the South Asian performing art of banethi. Since then, Andrew co-founded IMPACT (Indian Martial & Performance Art Collective of Toronto), and coordinated community arts projects across Toronto and in India. He has served TAC as Community Arts Officer, as well as Manager, TAC Grants Online. Working to improve access to TAC programs for under-represented cultural and community groups, Andrew led the development of several new grant programs and granting processes, including the Black Arts program and the Newcomer and Refugee Arts Engagement and Mentorship programs, and as head of the TAC Equity Steering Committee led the implementation of initiatives such as the TAC Accessibility Grant and Application Support, and helped develop and refine TAC's online granting system. Andrew became Director, Grants Management in 2017 and was named Director of Granting in 2019.


Portrait of Inés Aguileta
Inés Aguileta, Manager, Neighbourhood Arts Network – Inés is an arts administrator who also brings a deep background in project management. She has been involved in the arts community for nearly a decade, but has been passionate about the arts since childhood. After graduating from York University’s Honours Graphic Design program, she relocated to Spain where she earned her Master’s in Cultural Project Management at the Barcelona School of Design and Engineering. Upon her return to Toronto, she undertook the Marketing and PR Manager role at Soundstreams. Since then, she has volunteered at TEDx Boston, TIFF, and The Toronto Maker Festival. Currently at the Toronto Arts Foundation, she coordinates numerous programs for Neighbourhood Arts Network. Inés is an avid globetrotter and lover of culture, beginning with that of her native Mexico. She believes her experiences working and living in many other parts of the world have greatly benefitted her understanding and respect of many different cultures and forms of artistic expression.


Mitsuki Amano, Senior Coordinator, Donor Relations - Mitsuki is an experienced fundraising professional with passion for community-building through the arts. Born and raised in Sendai, Japan, where the Great East Japan Earthquake hit in 2011, he is interested in the various benefits the arts bring to the community, particularly in post-disaster settings. Prior to joining Toronto Arts Foundation, Mitsuki worked for a number of arts and cultural organizations/events both in Canada and in Japan, including The Canadian Opera Company, The National Ballet of Canada, and Tokyo Performing Arts Meeting. With his extensive knowledge of non-profit management and philanthropy in the arts industry, he hopes to help further enrich the communities of Toronto and GTA. He has a Bachelor's of Arts in English Studies from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, as well as a joint Master's of Management in International Arts Management from Southern Methodist University and HEC Montréal.

Mitsuki assists donors with processing their gifts, issuing tax receipts, arranging details for special events, and more. Contact Mitsuki if you have any questions regarding your donation. 

Email: mitsuki@torontoarts.org;  Phone: 416-392-6802 ext. 204


Angie Aranda
Angie Aranda, Senior Manager, Arts & Community Development  – Angie has an extensive background in partnership development, event management and communications, with numerous years of arts administration experience, previously working for Entertainment One Television, Cookie Jar Entertainment and York University. She is an active member of the arts community, particularly through her photography practice. She holds a Double Honours BA from York University with a focus on Film & Video and Communication Studies. Angie is also a member on the advisory board for East End Arts and AVNU. 


portrait of Kadija
Kadija de Paula,  Manager, Evaluation – Kadija de Paula is an artist, writer and arts administrator. Prior to becoming the Evaluation Manager at Toronto Arts Council and Foundation in September 2023, she acted as Interim Strategic Programs Manager at TAC. She holds an International MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University, and a BFA from OCAD University. She was an artist in residency at Sommerakademie Paul Klee, a 16-month programme hosted by the Bern Academy of the Arts HKB in 2021-22, and winner of the Institut Français residency program at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, in 2018-19. Her work has been presented at Kunsthaus Dresden, MdbK Leipzig, Q21 MuseumsQuartier Vienna, and the 32nd São Paulo Art Biennial, amongst others. Her writing was published at Arts of the Working Class Berlin, the online magazine of the Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab in Taipei, and the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw. She was the visual arts consultant for the development of the National Arts Policy in Brazil, a joint program between UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture. She facilitated the collaboration of a network of 27 artist residencies in 14 Latin American countries, with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Development and Cooperation AECID. Kadija was also a marketing assistant for diverse audience building in New York City. In Toronto she has held positions at the Ontario Arts Council, Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography, and XPACE Cultural Centre


Portrait of Zyrelle
Zyrelle Endozo, Coordinator, Mentorship & Programming (she/they) – Zyrelle is passionate about empowering the voices and work of those creating and existing in intersectionality, especially artists that are BIPOC and/or LGBTQ2SIA+. Her background involves project management, community outreach, design, and strategy development through digital marketing and social media. Previous work includes many years in Toronto’s non-profit sector with RISE, Vibe Arts, AGYU, Nuit Blanche, eCampus Ontario, and most recently Toronto Youth Equity Strategy for the City’s annual ResilienTOgether Youth Week events. She has also provided creative mentorship to the Black Student Association of Notre Dame High School as a proud alumna. Zyrelle is an Honours Graduate of the George Brown College Business Marketing program, as well as an active spoken word artist and painter seeking to amplify her own journey of navigating identity, culture, and healing. She remains inspired by the evolution of artistic expression, storytelling, and the very human way we all seek to deeply connect to one another.


Sarah Gladki headshot
Sarah Gladki, Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications – As Senior Manager, Communications, Sarah brings her lifelong passion for the arts and strong communication and administrative skills to Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation. An active member of the arts community, Sarah is a visual artist who works in many mediums including drawing, photography, moving images and clay. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University where she majored in both Art History and World Religions, and a Masters of Fine Arts from Ryerson University’s Documentary Media Program. Sarah currently serves on the board of the North American Native Plant Society. 


Armen Karapetyan headshot
Armen Karapetyan, Senior Manager, Finance & Facilities – Armen has extensive working experience with numerous non-profit organizations, predominantly in administration and finance. Prior to moving to Toronto, Armen lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he held a position at the Barthelmes Conservatory of Music, an experience he recalls with a sense of accomplishment and pride. Immediately upon his arrival in Toronto, Armen immersed himself into the city's art scene by volunteering with local arts organizations, including the Toronto Summer Music Festival, The Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, Canada’s National Ballet School and b Current Performing Arts, where he assisted with administrative, marketing and accounting duties. Armen holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and currently serves on the Board of Directors with Sinfonia Toronto. 


Haroon Khalid, Manager, Digital Communications  – Haroon is an author and a journalist, who brings his passion of writing and editing, to the position of  Manager, Digital Communications. He has an MA in Anthropology from the University of Toronto and a Bsc (Hon’s) in Social Sciences from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). He has been a professional writer since 2008 and has published five books and hundreds of articles. His research interests include pre-colonial arts, religiosity, history, and culture of South Asia. Haroon has also been an educator and has held several managerial positions in the education sector and non-profit organizations. He was a recipient of TAC’s Newcomer and Refugee Mentorship grant in 2020. 


Alexandra Loewen headshot
Alexandra Loewen, Senior Coordinator, Events & Initiatives – Alexandra has been interested in the arts from a very young age. She has been involved in instrumental and choral music as well as the visual arts. Her past work experience includes event planning, administration and project assistance and coordination. She holds a bachelor's degree in Film Studies from Brock University and a graduate certificate in Arts Administration and Cultural Management from Humber College.


Sarah Mangialardo, Senior Coordinator, Executive - Sarah Mangialardo is an artist, administrator and mother who was born and raised in Toronto. She holds a Master's degree in Photography from Concordia University and a Bachelor's degree in Photography from Toronto Metropolitan University. Throughout her career as a visual artist, Sarah’s artwork has been exhibited in galleries in North America and abroad. Her work can be found in collections and publications in Canada as well as Europe, and she has been the recipient of support from the Canada Council for the Arts. Sarah has many years of experience in management, administration and education. Her previous work experience includes working as a digital archivist and administrator at the University of Toronto, as well as teaching at Concordia University. 


portrait of Selina
Selina McCallum, Coordinator, Communications  – Selina McCallum is a hardworking and ambitious social media manager, filmmaker, photographer and videographer who is passionate about digital storytelling, music and social justice. She was born in Toronto and raised by her Tanzanian mother and Jamaican father. She graduated from the University of Windsor in spring 2019 with a double degree in Digital Journalism and Communications Media and Film. She started her photography business, Shot By Selina in 2016, and has worked with brands, models and businesses. In 2018, Selina won a national award for her videography work in her short documentary Marley’s Journey, which was also featured in Windsor Shorts 2019 on CBC GEM. Her film, Prison Bars to Page Lines a part of the Being Black in Canada Program was also nationally broadcasted on CBC and available to watch on CBC GEM. Her documentary, Fitriya: Muslim On and Off The Court, has been selected in film festivals nationally and internationally. Selina has successfully worked on communications and social media management projects for production houses in Toronto and music labels like Warner Music Canada. In her free time, she loves to watch movies, spend time with her family and go for walks. 


Portrait of Alandra
Alandra McKirdy, Coordinator, Special Events –  Alandra has a long history in the arts and most recently completed a post-graduate program in Arts Management at Centennial College. Alandra is passionate about connecting Toronto’s communities with accessible, art programming that can inspire creativity and ignite conversations. In her spare time, you can find her drawing, watering her plants, and listening to music.


Shawn Newman headshot
Shawn Newman, Ph.D.,  Senior Manager, Research & Impact – Shawn is the Research & Impact Manager at Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the evaluation of TAC grants programs and Foundation initiatives and initiating collaborative research projects that support the arts and culture sectors through bridging academia and industry. Having had an international career as a dancer and choreographer, and described as “[one] of Toronto’s finest dancers” (Paula Citron, Toronto Life), Shawn then completed his PhD in Cultural Studies at Queen’s University. He has taught in the Department of Gender Studies and the Department of Film and Media at Queen’s as well as the Department of Dance at York University. His research spans many artistic disciplines while focusing on representation and power in and through critical race, critical disability, and gender studies.


Michelle Parson headshot
Michelle Parson, Manager, Office & Reception – Before joining the Foundation's team in 1997, Michelle was General Administrator at Ballet Creole, and Human Resources Clerk at Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago. Michelle is a busy vocalist, singing with a number of bands in her Caribbean community. She has performed and toured with Ballet Creole, Inner Stage Theatre, Naked Mask and La Petite Musicale of Toronto. Numerous freelance performances have allowed her to share stages with high-profile local and international artists.


Portrait of Abishekk
Abhishek Rao, Accounting Clerk – Abhishek has a master's degree in commerce from the University of Mumbai and is currently pursuing a postgraduate diploma in international business management from Seneca College. He had worked as an Audit Analyst at KPMG before joining Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation. He is ecstatic and enthusiastic about supporting a vision that assures that all Toronto residents have access to the arts.


Jaclyn Rodrigues headshot
Jaclyn Rodrigues, Senior Manager, Events & Initiatives – Jaclyn supports Toronto Arts Foundation by developing and implementing strategies to engage stakeholder groups through outreach and marketing campaigns, special events and projects, and manages one of their largest initiatives, Arts in the Parks. Jaclyn is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Performance Production program, where she focused on production management. Jaclyn has worked with The Banff Centre for the Arts, The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Kaeja d’Dance and Canada's National Ballet School. Most recently, Jaclyn has focused her professional development on project management, and is currently pursuing accreditation in emergency management. Jaclyn is passionate about ‘building better together,’ and believes that the arts are a public right.  


Portrait of Clau
Clau Souza, Coordinator, Marketing – Clau Souza is a Brazilian Designer + Illustrator. Over the years, she has engaged in collaborative ventures across a broad spectrum of creative projects and teams, including partnerships with publishers, advertising agencies, game companies, and non-profit organizations around the world. With a Bachelor Degree in Advertising and post-graduate studies in Graphic Design and Arts Education and Community Engagement, her work is deeply rooted in fostering connections among communities and empowering people and projects that leave a positive, worldwide impact. Clau's unwavering belief is that design is a force for change, driving her passion and curiosity for a creative approach focused on sustainable practices and accessible design solutions.


Portrait of Catherine
Catherine Tammaro, Award Program Manager

Taomesre ~ People of the Little Turtle, Wyandot of Anderdon Nation; Wendat Confederacy

Catherine Tammaro is a multi-disciplinary artist whose practise spans decades. She is an enrolled member of the Wyandot of Anderdon Nation which is part of the Wendat Confederacy and served as their Communications Officer for many years. Catherine is a seated Spotted Turtle Clan Tradition Keeper and is active throughout the city and beyond, in many organizations as Elder in Residence, Mentor and Cultural Advisor. She is an alumna of the Ontario College of Art and has had a diverse career, multiple exhibits and installations, published written works and presentations and continues her practise as well as supporting the work and development of other artists on an ongoing basis. Catherine served on the Board of the TAC, TAC's Income Precarity Working Group and was the Chair of the Toronto Arts Council's Indigenous Advisory Committee in 2020/21.


For more information on how to reach us, please go here.